Multiplex switch system



Sept. 24,1963 w. WEIFORD, JR

' 'MULTIPLEX SWITCH SYSTEM Filed July 20, 1960 INVENTOR. GEORGE W. WEIFORD JR ATTYS I there are usually numerous switches simultaneously although the directions of operation or the support frame;

This invention relates to a multiplex switch system whereby switches which require simultaneous actuation may be grouped for actuation by a common member. The use of many relatively low voltage switches is becoming common in control circuits. In particular, the switching required in automatic elevators, and the like, can be extremely complex. Elaborate systems have been devised for operating a multiplicity of switches in their proper sequential order. However, these means are often awkward, expensive and involve undue mechanical complexity,

In accordance with my present invention the complexity of mechanical switch actuating arrangement is minimized. It has been my observation that in most control systems which do operate functions performed may differ. My invention takes advantage of this fact by providing a single common actuator for the multiplicity of switches which are intended to operate simultaneously. My system employs an arrangement of switches such that a single actuator can effect many switches which are to be simultaneously actuated, and in some cases all of the switches in the system that are to be simultaneously actuated.

More specifically, my present invention concerns a multiplex switch system wherein the switches are to be mounted on a frame or support member and a drive member is mounted on the same frame. The drive member is supplied with an elongated bar and the switches are so supported on the frame relative to the bar on opposite sides of the drive member that their-actuators contact the bar. 'The arrangement is such that in movement of the elongated bar by the actuator drive member, the actuators of switch members on each side of the drive member are simultaneously actuated.

The arrangement may vary from a single switch arranged on each side of the drive member to a complex wherein the elongated bar extends through a slot in the frame and switches are mounted on each side of the frame to lie on each side of the drive member. In such a case the switches may be mounted on each side of the elongated bar and above and below the bar so as to occupy each of four quadrants relative to the bar. Moreover, in each quadrant frame to an extent limited of the drive member. 1

For a better understanding of the present invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: v

FIG. 1. is a plan view from above partially in section;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view from one side of the primarily by the load capacity FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the drive means and the elongated bar; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing details of one construction of the switches and a ation thereof.

Referring first to FZEGS. 1-3, the general preferred arrangement of the system isv illustrated. A support frame'is preferably provided by an-insulator board which may'serve as a control and/ or instrument panel or in'some other function as well'as a support frame. The limitations on the extent of the board suggested by FIG. 2 are purelyfor the purpose of clarifying the structure as switches may be added outward of the preferred oper- .ments may be employed.

Patented Sept. 24, 1963 illustrated. In many practical arrangements more than one multiplex switch system of the type illustrated and claimed herein would be used on a common support panel although the various switch systems might have a difierent operating program.

In the arrangement shown each of the switches is shown as having a casing 11 or support body of insulating material generally in the form of a rectangular solid. Extending from the casings 11 are actuators 12, preferably levers, which enable actuation of the switch contacts internal of the casing. The switches are so mounted on the panel, by means which will be described in detail hereafter, that their respective levers are able to be in continuous contact with elongated bar 13. The elongated bar 13 is, in turn, connected to an extension of solenoid core 14, which is positioned to be drawn into solenoid winding 15 (see FIG. 3). The winding 15 is supported on frame 16. Frame 16 in turn is fixed to slotted support member 17. Slotted support member 17, in turn, is fixed to frame member 10 thereby fixing the whole drive member relative thereto. The slotted support member 17 and a slot 18 in the support frame member 10 are aligned with each other and with the elongated bar 13 which extends through both slots to permit the movement determined by the solenoid 15.

The elongated bar 13, in its preferred form, may be a flat rigid strip which is arranged perpendicular to the support frame so that it passes through the slot 18 to provide actuating portions 13a and 13b on opposite sides of the frame. The slot is preferably vertically arranged to permit vertical movement of the elongated bar, but in other embodiments horizontal arrangement or other arrange- In the embodiment shown the motion imparted by the solenoid is vertical and when the solenoid is energized the core 14 is pulled inwardly and downwardly by the solenoid winding 15 thereby causing downward movement of the elongated bar, compressing of helical spring 21). Spring 20 bears against the bottom edge of the elongated bar and the top edge of frame member 16. When the solenoid is de-energized the spring 20 rges the elongated bar to its upper position. In other embodiments the arrangement of the solenoid and core may be inverted so that gravity may be relied upon in addition to the spring to move the elongated bar from the position it assumes when the solenoid is energized to the position it assumes when it is de-energized. Still other arrangements of solenoids and other types of drives other than solenoids may be substituted as suits the needs of those skilled in the art.

In the embodiment illustrated the switches are supported on closespaced pairs of parallel rods 21. These rods may be conveniently threaded throughout their length and made to extend through holes in the support frame panel 10. In such event they may be supported relative to the frame by any suitable means such, for example, as the pairs of nuts and washers threaded on to each threaded rod 21 and against the support frame panel. Use of such pairs of nuts and washers 22 may be seen, for example, in FIG. 1. Switches to be supported on parallel rods 21 are provided with parallel holes at the proper spacing through the switch bodies as may be visualized by observation of FIGS. 2 and 4, and the rods are put through the holes and the switches slid onto the rods 21 from opposite sides of the panel, 10. The switches may be positioned by suitable spacers .23 or by nuts 24,.

7 connection with the present invention,

3 ditional pair of nuts 25 or other suitable means. As shown in FIG. 1 additional switches as indicated in dotdashed lines may be addedylimited only by the length of the parallel rods provided and the load which they impart .to the actuator bar.

Possible arrangement of the contacts and conductors may be seen from FIG. 4. The two switches shown there are arranged so that they are inverted with respect to one another, so that when one has contacts closed in one direction the other has corresponding contacts open. As can be seen, terminals are providedbyscrews 27, 2 8 and 29.

In the switches shown in FIG. 4 because of the arrangement of spring 30 and fulcrum pin 31 to flange extensions ll'la of the casing relative to lever 1-2, contact 32 is normally closed. Terminal 27 is connected to normally closed contact 32, terminal 28 is connected to normally open contact 33, and terminal 29 is connected through switch arm 34- to the common contact 35. Common contact 35 is actually a pair of contacts one on each side of toggle arranged switcharm 34 to mate with contacts 32 and 33, respectively. It can be seen that the housing 11 is composed of hard resinous material or other suitable insulating material provided with a cavity for the contact supports and leads to the terminals. including the lever, pivot 31, spring 33 and actuator pin 36 are all at least in part external to the casing but between parallel flanges 11a. Pin 36 extends slidably into the casing 1 1 and contacts a spring-like over-center element to provide toggle action to common contact arm 34. The unstable position of this arm occurs'when the pin 36 is pressed inward and the action closes the normally open contacts as shown in the upper switch in FIG. 4. Illustration of the wiring has been generally omitted from the drawings to avoid confusion, but one skilled in the art will lsnow how to connect the wiring to the terminals corbeen written to include other forms of arrangement em- The actuator system ploying the same basic system of multiplexing switches. All such modifications within the scope of the claims are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A multiple switch arrangement comprising a slotted support panel, an elongated bar extending through a slot in the panel, a plurality of individual switch units each comprising at least a pair of contacts within a casing and ll|l an actuator for moving the contacts extending through the casing, means supporting the individual switch units on opposite sides of the panel with their actuators in contact with the bar and drive means connected to the panel for moving the bar in a direction having at least a component parallel to the panel to actuate simultaneously the individual switch units through their actuators.

2. The multiplex switch system of claim 1 in which the switch units employed are closed units whose casings protect them from dirt and moisture.

3. The multiplex switch system of claim 2 in which the support members permit switch units to be added to or removed from the system without disturbing the other switch units. i

4. The multiplex switch system of claim 1 in which the switches are arranged so that their actuators contact opposite sides of the bar.

"5. T .e multiplex switch system of claim 1' in which the v switches are arranged so that their actuators contact responding to terminals 27, 28 and 29 identified inFIG. 4

'to suit his particular needs. 1

It will be apparent to those skilled'in the art other types of switch arrangement including those having multiple contacts or only a single pair of contacts may be employed alternatively for a particular application. Combinations of switches having different numbers and arrangements of contacts but which are simultaneously actuated can be employed in a single multiplex system of the present invention. 7 i

The elongated bar may be varied in form-in other instances to accommodate other types of actuators.

the bar on opposite sides of the bar and support at least in part the bar in such a manner as to maintain stable rest positions of the bar.

' 6. A multiplex switch arrangement comprising a slotted support panel, an elongated bar extending through a slot.

in the panel, a plurality of individual switch units, each comprising at least a pair of contacts within a casing and an actuator folmoving the contacts extendingthrough the casing, means on the panel supporting'the individual switch In the present instance the switches are so mounted that actuators V which bear against edge 37a, 37b, 370 or 37d from oppo-.

site sides of the elongated bar must he staggered so that their levers .1 2 are interspersed or alternated along each edge. In other arrangements a somewhat modified -ge-- ometry might be employed. However, in most systems a basic quadrant arrangement of switches relative to the elongated bar with separate quadrant systems on each side of the support frame will afliord a maximum system ca pacity. In the arrangement shown here, the location of a particular switch may be identified by quadrant position,

for example, on the front sideof the panel board in the quadrant .above the elongated bar on-the right-side of the elongated bar in facing the panel. If more than one "switch exists in a quadrant, it may be identified'as the particular-switch so many units from the panel board. 1 Operationof the device has previously been considered in the course of discussion of the structure since an understanding of structure is inevitably tied to actuation. It will be appreciated that successful operation of a particular system depends on the need of every switch in the system to be actuated simultaneously. Simultaneous actuation must apply in each'of its two directions, or from each state or condition to the other.

Many variations of arrangement can be visualized in The claims have units on opposite sides of'the panel with their actuators in contact with the bar and stabilizing the bar in each of two positions, solenoid drive means connected to the panel and having a movable part pivotally connected to the bar to move said bar from one of said positions to the otherof said positions along a path having at least a component parallel to the panel and transverse to the bar in. order to simultaneously actuate the individual switch units through their actuators.

7.'The.switch'arrangement of claim 6 in which the switch supporting means parallel the elongated bar so that switch units are placed. thereon or removed by sliding parallel to the elongated bar.

' 8. The switch arrangement of claim 6 in which the means supporting the individual switch units positions the actuators extend from both .sides to each edge of the elongated bar in the direction of its movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,965,125 Ketay July 3, 1934 2,666,113 Kuhnke et a1 Jan. 12, 1954 

1. A MULTIPLE SWITCH ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A SLOTTED SUPPORT PANEL, AN ELONGATED BAR EXTENDING THROUGH A SLOT IN THE PANEL, A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL SWITCH UNITS EACH COMPRISING AT LEAST A PAIR OF CONTACTS WITHIN A CASING AND AN ACTUATOR FOR MOVING THE CONTACTS EXTENDING THROUGH THE CASING, MEANS SUPPORTING THE INDIVIDUAL SWITCH UNITS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PANEL WITH THEIR ACTUATORS IN CONTACT WITH THE BAR AND DRIVE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE PANEL FOR MOVING THE BAR IN A DIRECTION HAVING AT LEAST A COMPONENT PARALLEL TO THE PANEL TO ACTUATE SIMULTANEOUSLY THE INDIVIDUAL SWITCH UNITS THROUGH THEIR ACTUATORS. 